This summer has been full of learning experiences, both in the field and in the office. I gained knowledge in several areas, but one of the most valuable skills I developed was weed identification. I now feel confident recognizing weeds like morning glory and velvetleaf in the field. It is rewarding to apply that knowledge outside of work and be able to identify plants in my everyday life.
I also learned about herbicides and how they support farmers. While I was unsure about working with pesticides at first, I’ve gained a better understanding of how herbicides help protect crops. I learned that genetically modified crops are often designed to resist herbicide damage so weeds can be controlled without harming the crops. This helps ensure stronger yields by reducing competition for sunlight and nutrients.
Most of what I did this summer was completely new. I had never rated weed injury or weed control, used ARM software, or worked with field data before. I have learned so much over the past 9 weeks.
One of the things I am most proud of is analyzing the Talbot County Corn Club data, which dates back to 1952. This project allowed me to apply my data science major in a real-world setting. It was exciting to work with a historical dataset and explore variables like yield, nitrogen, and phosphorus over time.
I also learned more about my work style. I prefer working independently, especially with data, because it allows me to take full creative control. However, I also enjoyed the mix of indoor and outdoor work throughout the internship. I do not see myself in a role where I am indoors all day. I appreciated being in the field, but also valued the time spent entering data, writing blog posts, and participating in our weekly connections
A skill I hope to continue building is weed identification. One day I recognized yellow nutsedge growing in my backyard, something I would not have been able to identify before this internship. I most likely would have guessed it was grass.
Yellow nutsedge I identified in my backyard
This week, I attended the Maryland Commodity Classic for the first time. It felt like an agricultural fair for adults. There were sponsor booths and learning opportunities. It was also nice to reconnect with other interns. Shelby and I also spent time taking weed and ryegrass counts in a cover crop study, which was documented with a drone photo.
.JPG)
Comments
Post a Comment